Top Incidents When Players Refused Handshakes in Cricket

No-handshake video of post-match:

During India's Group A match of Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai, India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Indian players refused to exchange the conventional handshake with Pakistan before and after the game. Not even during the toss was there a handshake. Post the win in a seven-wicket victory, India players walked off the field, exchanging handshakes with each other.

The act was justified by India as a gesture of respect and sympathy following the Pahalgam terror attack. Condemning the act severely, Pakistan officials criticized it for a lack of sportsmanship norms. The incident captured centre stage around the globe, blending cricket, politics, and emotion.

Scotland Boycott of Sandeep Lamichhane (2023)

During a match at Kirtipur (Nepal), players of Scotland saluted all Nepali cricketers except Sandeep Lamichhane with their handshake.The action was universally seen as a snub: Lamichhane was out on bail on the sexual coercion of a minor charges.

The silent snub showed the extent to which off-field controversies can spill onto playing grounds, affecting customary courtesy. It reopened debates on players' eligibility and moral responsibility in light of criminal investigations. Even though no formal disciplinary action followed directly from the snub, the public and press reacted angrily.

Virat Kohli Avoids Sourav Ganguly (IPL 2023)

Virat Kohli and Sourav Ganguly were amidst tensions that resulted from Indian cricket leadership changes and emerged publicly during the IPL 2023 season. During a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC), cameras caught Kohli avoiding Sourav Ganguly without offering a handshake.

Though it was a league match at the home level, this episode reached far and wide among cricket circles due to their background. The majority viewed it as an emotional slight where private tension yielded to public propriety. It did not influence the match itself, but it hijacked post-match discussion.

Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, World Cup 2023

Handshake Snub At the 2023 World Cup, following a tough match, Sri Lankan cricketers boycotted shaking hands with Bangladesh after losing by three wickets. Rising tension on the field, verbal exchanges, stare-downs and a testy "timed-out" incident of Angelo Mathews fueled tempers.The Sri Lanka snub was universally decried as unsportsmanlike.

Mathews was particularly upset, arguing that a faulty helmet strap should have been considered. The incident has fueled controversy over the handling of controversy and whether players should respond to provocation or remain committed to process no matter what occurs in a game.

Conclusion

The Top Incidents When Players Refused Handshakes in Cricket remind us that sport is never divorced from emotion, history, and power. These events, whatever has been their spark, from political tensions through legal problems, leadership conflicts, or controversial umpiring decisions, blur the boundaries between sporting conduct and human response. While handshakes are framed in ceremony, refusing to shake hands is a potent metaphor: of protest, of hurt, or of defiance.

They polarize fans, challenge power, and force us to ask what the values are that matter most in cricket.In the end, these incidents defy simple judgment. They teach that alongside technique and achievement, there is also drama, suspense, and intensely individualized stakes in cricket. They shed light on what the participants and fans expect, hoped for, or complained about when the game's rituals are breached.